Baltimore cop, ex-cops indicted

BALTIMORE, April 1 (UPI) -- A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charges a current Baltimore police officer and two retired officers in the beating of a cuffed and shackled juvenile.

The six-count indictment accuses Officer Gregory Mussmacher, retired Officer Guy Gerstel and retired Sgt. Wayne Thompson of civil rights and obstruction of justice violations in the alleged April 2004 assault on the youth with a baton and pool stick, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release.

Mussmacher is accused of hitting the juvenile with a police-issued baton and Gerstel of using the pool stick. They also allegedly obstructed justice by lying in statements about the assault. Gerstel also allegedly lied to the FBI about the case.

Thompson allegedly obstructed justice by writing a false statement and by corruptly persuading other officers not to fill out required reports about the incident.

"Most law enforcement officers perform their duties with honor and integrity," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein of the District of Maryland. "Any police officers who abuse suspects, write false reports and obstruct justice must be held accountable so that citizens can have confidence in law enforcement agencies."

If found guilty, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison on each of the civil rights charges, 20 years on each obstruction charge and five years on the false statement charge.